WO 171/376 - Guards Armoured Division - September 1944

Instructions regarding War Diaries and Intelligence Summaries are contained in F.S. Regs., Vol. 1. and the Staff Manual respectively Title pages will be prepared in manuscript.	WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY	Army Form C.2118
	WAR DIARY or INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY	Unit: HQ Gds Armd Div
Month and Year: September 1944	(Erase heading not required).	Commanding Officer: Maj. Gen. A.H.S. Adair, DSO MC

Place	Date	Hour	Summary	Reference
	1		Adv continued and Gds Armd Div advanced approx 65 miles with Div HQ harbouring in northern outskirts of ARRAS.
	1		Very little opposition met except for a small battle in ALBERT.
	1		A large number of PW were taken during the day but as these were handed over to the FFI to save tpt for pet their exact numbers are not known although probably in the neighbourhood of 1000.
	1		Q Sitrep: 8 days sups held - 80 miles pet held. Nil amn expended. Tk cas 4.
FRANCE	1	0045	Gds Armd Div Op Instr No 10 issued.	Appx "A"
	1	0215	Orders issued for move of the Division.	Appx "B"
	1	0400	Gds Armd Div Int Summary No 53 issued.	Appx "C"
	1		Div HQ harboured in Northern outskirts of ARRAS.
	2		Gds Armd Div advanced to western outskirts of DOUAI but was unable to adv further owing to danger of interfering with airborne landings and preliminary bombing.
	2		Q Sitrep: 7 days sups held - 140 miles pet held - 5000 rds 25 pr held in excess of 2nd line scale. Tk cas nil.
	2	0030	Gds Armd Div Int Summary No 54 issued.	Appx "D"
	2	0120	Sitrep as at 012359 hrs issued.	Appx "E"
	2		Op "Sabot" Notes on Div Comds conference.	Appx "F"
	2		Div HQ harboured in western outskirts of DOUAI.
BELGIUM	2	0035	Gds Armd Div Int Summary No 55 issued.	Appx "G"
	3		Op 'Sabot'. Gds Armd Div advanced to BRUSSELS, crossing the Franco-Belgian frontier at 1330 hrs. Leading tps crossed br in centre of BRUSSELS 2110 hrs.
	3		Q Sitrep: 8 days sups held - 110 miles POL. Tk cas 3.
	3		Approx 1000 PW were taken during the day, of which 300 were handed to Armée Blanche. The remainder were held by Bdes as situation made this more satisfactory than establishing Div PW Cage.
	3		Div HQ harboured on the outskirts of BRUSSELS.
	4		GOC entered BRUSSELS officially at approx 1400 hrs followed by bn gp of Belgian tps and then Div HQ. Div HQ advanced with ACVs leading two up, followed by remaining vehs. The reception was the warmest that had yet been received, although, on the previous day in particular, and throughout the adv there was no doubt regarding the genuineness of the welcome. The procession was halted by the masses of semi-hysterical people clambering on all the vehs and there was not a veh which did not receive flowers, a drink, fruit, or whatever people had to offer. It was a day of jubilation in BRUSSELS.
	4		Q Sitrep: 7 days sups held - 140 miles POL. Nil amn exprended. Tk cas nil.
	4		PW Cage est at CASERNE DE GRENADIER where approx 300 PW were received.
	4		All rks were confined to unit areas.
	4		Special Order of the Day issued by Maj-Gen Allan Adair, DSO, MC. Adair, Allan Henry Shafto, 6th Baronet	Appx "H"
	4	0030	Gds Armd Div Int Summary No 56 issued.	Appx "I"
	4		Div HQ established in the centre of BRUSSELS after triumphal procession through the streets of the capital.
	4	2100	Gds Armd Div Location Statement as at 042100 hrs issued.	Appx "J"
	5		No moves. PW still coming in and guarded by Armée Blanche at CASERNE DE GRENADIER, BRUSSELS.
	5		Q Sitrep: 7 days sups held - 155 miles POL held - 400 rds 25 pr and 300 rds 75 mm expended during previous four days. 100 rpg 25 pr held in excess of 1st and 2nd line scales. Tk cas one.
	5		As many offrs and ORs as op circumstances allowed were permitted to walk out in the town and everything from champagne to pre-war Scotch Whiskey was provided by the hospitality of the inhabitants.
	5		Capt SG Hale, Fd Cashier, had not been issued with Belgian currency through official channels and consequently visited the Banque Nationale. A special meeting of the board of Directors was immediately called and issued instrs for as much cash as required to be issued in new notes of any denomination required. A bottle of champagne was then opened to close the deal.
	5	2100	ACVs 1 and 3 destroyed by fire.
	5		Gds Armd Div Op Instr No 11 issued.	Appx "K"
	6		Gds Armd Div left BRUSSELS in the morning amidst the cheers and salutations of the happy people. The Div advanced to the line of the ALBERT CANAL, but all the brs had been blown. A br hd was est over the canal and while the div engineers were building a br the local population obtained all the barges they could lay their hands on and started to build a rival br. This day's adv was marked by a warmer welcome than ever with plentiful gifts of peaches, plums, tomatoes, beer and every conceivable tribute. Union Jacks were painted on the rds and flags fluttered from every building.
	6		Lt Hon G Russell, IG, Tpt Offr, was injured by a veh which pressed him against a gatepost. Although not dangerously injured he had to remain in hosp in BRUSSELS.
	6		Div HQ harboured just North of DIEST at 135739.
	6		Q Sitrep: 7 days sups held - 150 miles pet held. Tk cas 3.
	6		Approx 400 PW.
	6	1830	Gds Armd Div Location Statement No 6 issued.	Appx "L"
	6		Div HQ moved and harboured North of DIEST.
	7		No moves of Div HQ.
	7		Q Sitrep: 7 days sups held - 120 miles pet held. Tk cas 4.
	7		Approx 500 PW.
	7	0315	Gds Armd Div Int Summary No 58 issued.	Appx "N"
	7	1500	Gds Armd Div Location Statement No 7 issued.	Appx "O"
	7	2200	Sitrep as at 072000 hrs issued.	Appx "P"
	8		No move of Div HQ.
	8		Q Sitrep: 7 days sups - 170 miles pet held. Tk cas 11.
	8		Approx 200 PW.
	8		Sitrep as at 081600 hrs issued.	Appx "Q"
	9		Div HQ crossed ALBERT CANAL and harboured 238582. Hy fighting in area East of BOURG LEOPOLD.
	9		Q Sitrep unchanged approx 200 PW. Tk cas 12.
	9	0315	Gds Armd Div Int Summary No 60 issued.	Appx "R"
	9		Div moved and harboured 238582 after crossing ALBERT CANAL.
	10		No move move of Div HQ while hy fighting continued in same area as previous day ending with successful est of br hd over ESCAUT. Amn in short sup as the majority of tpt from base had been carrying POL and sups. However, 250 rpg held in div, adequate for day's programme and replenishment was possible from 160 FMC just West of BRUSSELS.
	10		Q Sitrep unchanged. 200 rds 25 pr extended. Tk cas 14.
	10	0050	Sitrep as at 092359 hrs issued.	Appx "S"
	10	0430	Gds Armd Div Int Summary No 61 issued.	Appx "T"
	10	2200	Gds Armd Div Location Statement as at 102200 hrs issued.	Appx "U"
	11		No move of Div HQ. Hy fighting continued in same area.
	11		Q sitrep unchanged. Tk cas 1. 70 PW.
	11	1900	Gds Armd Div Location Statement as at 111900 hrs issued.	Appx "V"
	12		No change.
	12	0200	Gds Armd Div Int Summary No 63 issued.	Appx "W"
	12	1515	Sitrep as at 121400 hrs issued.	Appx "X"
	12	2200	Gds Armd Div Location Statement as at 122200 hrs issued.	Appx "Y"
	12	2355	Tasks for 13 Sep issued.	Appx "Z"
	12		Comd 30 Corps visited Gds Armd Div HQ and units of the Div. Programme at	Appx "AA"
	13		No change. 25 pr HE 250 rds expended.
	13	0130	Gds Armd Div Int Summary issued.	Appx "BB"
	13		Trace showing mine defences as at 3495 issued.	Appx "CC"
	13	1800	Gds Armd Div Location Statement as at 131800 hrs issued.	Appx "DD"
	14-16		No change.
	14	0145	Gds Armd Div Intelligence Summary No. 63 issued.	Appx "EE"
	14	1100	O Gp held 141730 hrs.	Appx "FF"
	15	0200	Gds Armd Div Intelligence Summary No. 66 issued.	Appx "GG"
	15	1800	Gds And Div Location Statement as at 151800 hrs issued.	Appx "HH"
	15	2245	O Gp to be held at 161500 hrs.	Appx "II"
	15	2359	Gds Armd Div OO No 12 (Ops Market) issued.	Appx "JA"
	16		Q Sitrep: 8 days sups held - 145 miles POL held - 960 rds 25 pr expended - 4000 25 pr held in excess 1st and 2nd line scales.
	16	0210	Gds Armd Div Intelligence Nunnery No. 67 issued.	Appx "JJ"
	16	1500	O Gp held.
	16	1830	No change Location Statement issued.
	16	1721	Addendum to Gds Armd Div OO No. 12 issued.	Appx "KK"
	16		H hr and D day for Op 'Market' (171300 hrs) notified.	Appx "LL"
	16		Rules for opening of AA fire notified.	Appx "MM"
	16		Amendment to Gds Armd Div OO No. 12 issued.	Appx "NN"
	17		Div HQ moved to area just SW of br over ESCAUT CANAL. Hy fighting during day. Div HQ was fairly heavily shelled during the night but casualties were fortunately nil. Some enemy managed to cross the canal and Div HQ stood to for about an hour from 0200 hrs.
	17		Q Sitrep: 7 days sups - 190 miles POL and 10,000 rds 25 pr in excess 1st and 2nd line scales were held. Tk cas 10. PW approx 200 handed to 231 Inf Bde.
	17	0125	Gds Armd Div Int Summary No. 68 issued.	Appx "OO"
	17		Div HQ move to area SW of br over ESCAUT canal and was fairly heavily shelled during the night.
	18		Div HQ moved in evening to area just South of VALKENSWAARD E4108 after crossing the Belgian - Dutch frontier.
	18		Q Sitrep: 7 days sups - 185 miles POL - 9000 rds 25 pr in excess 1st and 2nd line scales held. 1150 rds 25 pr expended. Tk cas 1.
	18		Div HQ moved in the evening to area South of VALKENSWAARD after crossing Dutch frontier.
	18		Gds Armd Div Int Summary No. 70 issued.	Appx "OA"
HOLLAND	18	2200	Gds Armd Div Location Statement No. 15 issued.	Appx "PP"
	19		A most satisfactory adv to just South of NIJMEGEN E7163. Br over the R WAAL still intact but not yet in our hands. RASC tail moving up sustained cas from bombing in EINDHOVEN, 16 amn vehs and 7 pet vehs being lost.
	19		Q Sitrep 6 days sups - 150 miles POL held. Tk cas 9.
	19		Div HQ moved to HEUMAN, receiving attention from enemy aircraft.
	19	2200	Gds Armd Div Location Statement No. 16 issued.	Appx "QQ"
	20		Day spent consolidating br hd and mopping up remaining enemy in NIJMEGEN. A very large food store discovered at OSS E4854. Our own drawings were intermittently interrupted by enemy vehs arriving for the same purpose.
	20		Q Sitrep: 5 days sups - 145 miles POL held. 3400 rds 25 pr expended. Tk cas 9.
	20	0100	Gds Armd Div Int Summary No. 71 issued.	Appx "RR"
	20	1000	Div HQ moved to MALDEN.
	20	1250	Sitrep as at 201200 hrs issued.	Appx "SS"
	20	2200	Location Statement No 17 issued.	Appx "TT"
	21		Situation virtually unchanged.
	21		Q Sitrep: 4 days sups - 140 miles POL held. Tk cas 2.
	21	0400	Gds Armd Div Int Summary No 72 issued.	Appx "UU"
	21	2000	Location Statement No 18 issued.	Appx "VV"
	22		43 Div passed through in a bid to join up with 1 Br Airborne Div who had been taking part in hy fighting North of ARNHEM. E77, since dropping 17 Sep, and who were very short of good and amn.
	22		L of C was cut today North of EINDHOVEN, although the mail managed to reach the Div in the morning.
	22		Q Sitrep: 3 days sups - 130 miles POL held. Tk cas 2.
	22	0145	Gds Armd Div Int Summary No 73 issued.	Appx "WW"
	22	1310	Notification of passwords issued.	Appx "XX"
	23-30		The L of C continued to be cut intermittently until the flanking Corps were able to push fwd. The German food store at OSS was of value during this period, although there was no crisis over food. With amn held in the Div and what was able to get through there was no acute shortage, although quite a large amount was expended. Tk cas during this period 16.
	23	2000	Location Statement No 19 issued.	Appx "YY"
	24	0305	Gds Armd Div Int Summary issued.	Appx "ZZ"
	25	0310	Gds Armd Div Int Summary No 76 issued.	Appx "AAA"
	26	0240	Gds Armd Div Int Summary No 77 issued.	Appx "BBB"
	26	2000	Location Statement No 22 issued.	Appx "CCC"
	27	0100	Gds Armd Div Int Summary No 78 issued.	Appx "DDD"
	27	2000	Location Statement No 23 issued.	Appx "EEE"
	28	0210	Gds Armd Div Int Summary No 79 issued.	Appx "FFF"
	29		Div HQ moved to NEERBOSCH 6661 where the HQ was est all around the buildings of a large orphanage.
	29	0130	Gds Armd Div lnt Summary No 80 issued.	Appx "GGG"
	29	1130	Infm regarding damage to NIJMEGEN bridge issued.	Appx "HHH"
	30	1100	Gds Armd Div Location Statement No 25 issued.	Appx "III"
	30	1330	Div HQ moved to and est itself in the grounds of a large orphanage at NEERBOSCH 6661.
	30	2200	Location Statement No 26 issued issued.	Appx "JJJ"
	30		Battle narrative for period 1 - 30 Sep.	Appx "KKK"

Source: Jeroen Niels, TracesOfWar.com, transcribing: Hans Houterman.

Disclaimer: This War Diary is based on its original, but typos might be corrected. Locations are calculated, so might not be in the correct place. For historical research, always check the originals.

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